An Open Letter from Promoting human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia (Tapol) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
Mr Joko Widodo
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458 595
Fax: +62 21 3484 4759
29 April 2015
Dear Mr President,
I am writing to you on behalf of TAPOL and the undersigned organisations, all of whom are deeply concerned about the absence of free and open access to the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua (henceforth: Papua) for international journalists, humanitarian organisations and human rights observers. The media blackout in Papua denies the Papuan people the right to have their voices heard and allows human rights violations such as killings, torture and arbitrary arrests, to continue with impunity.
For more than 50 years, access for foreign journalists seeking to report on Papua has been severely restricted. Those who have entered Papua on tourist visas have been deported, arrested and even imprisoned. Just last year, two French journalists were sentenced to 11 weeks in detention under immigration charges. According to the Jayapura branch of Indonesia’s Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, AJI), in recent years journalists from Czech Republic, France and the Netherlands have been deported for reporting on peaceful political events in Papua.
At the local level, violence and intimidation of national and local journalists makes independent journalism a high-risk activity. On 30 July 2010, journalist Mr Ardiansyah Matra’is was found dead after receiving repeated threats from the military while he investigated illegal logging. On 24 August 2010, Mr Musa Kondorura of radio KBR68H was attacked by two agents from the State Intelligence Agency (Badan Intelijen Negara, BIN). On 3 March 2011 Mr Banjir Ambarita, a journalist with Jakarta Globe and Bintang Papua was attacked and stabbed after reporting on a police rape case which resulted in the resignation of senior police official Mr Imam Setiawan. In 2011, AJI reportedly recorded 7 cases of violence and intimidation against journalists. In 2012 the number of recorded cases reportedly rose to 12. In July 2013 the house of a local journalist for Majalah Selangkah, a critical independent news site, was raided by unknown persons who ransacked the place.
There are ongoing reports of serious human rights violations including torture, enforced disappearances, murder, ill-treatment, cruel or degrading treatment, excessive use of force and arbitrary arrest of indigenous Papuans by Indonesian security forces. In August last year, an activist with the West Papua Nasional Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB) was kidnapped, tortured, murdered and his body dumped in a river. There have been no police investigations and very few media reports on this case. Just last month, at least six people were shot and 21 others arrested by Papuan National Police (Polda Papua) and Mobile Brigade (Brigade Mobil, Brimob) officers in Yahukimo. A 48-year-old village head, Mr Obang Sengenil, died from gunshot injuries.Although widespread human rights violations are regularly recorded by Papuan civil society groups, this information rarely makes its way into mainstream media.
The de-facto ban on foreign journalists, NGOs and humanitarian organisations contributes to the isolation of local journalists, and makes independent investigation and corroboration virtually impossible. This media blackout makes it extremely difficult to hold perpetrators of human rights violations to account, allowing them to continue to act with impunity.
Over the years, international humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organisations have been pressured to close their field offices and leave Papua, denyingindigenous Papuans access to vital support and resources for development, health and education. The failure of the local government to effectively address the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Papua is just one example of how the restrictions on access are not only repressive but are proving lethal, particularly to the indigenous population.
Access for UN human rights observers has been closed for eight years. In May 2012, Indonesia accepted a recommendation of the Universal Periodic Review to issue an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. A visit by Mr Frank La Rue, the previous mandate holder, was scheduled for January 2013. However, this visit was unilaterally cancelled and indefinitely postponed by Indonesia, because of the Special Rapporter’s wish to visit Papua and Maluku.
International journalists and non-governmental organisations seeking to visit Papua are currently required to undergo a stringent visa application process involving the unanimous approval of 18 separate government agencies known as the Clearing House committee. This bureaucratic and time-consuming process deters journalists from attempting to visit West Papua, or encourages them to choose to travel to Papua on a tourist visa. The involvement of agencies such as BIN in this vetting process begs the question: What is Indonesia hiding in West Papua?
Access for journalists, humanitarian agencies and human rights observers is often denied or restricted on the grounds of security, with authorities stating that their priority is to protect foreigners from dangerous armed rebels. We respectfully submit that journalists reporting on conflict areas accept such potential risks. As journalists they understand the risks involved in fulfilling their duty to witness and tell the stories of people facing violence and injustice, and their efforts to secure peace and justice.
Mr President, during your presidential campaign in June last year, you stated that there was nothing to hide in Papua and promised to open the region. We believe that free and open access to Papua for international journalists, humanitarian agencies and human rights organisations will serve to protect and promote the human rights of indigenous Papuans, and all those who call the Land of Papua their home.The end of restrictions on access to Papua will not only be in accordance with Indonesia’s international obligations but will also strengthen Indonesia’s standing as a democratic nation.We therefore urge the Government of Indonesia to:
•Take steps to end violence and intimidation against journalists in West Papua, investigate allegations of violence, and prosecute those suspected of involvement.
•Remove all restrictions on visits by foreign journalists to West Papua, and on freedom of movement within Papua, including the system by which visa applications are vetted by a clearing house of government departments.
•Provide access for international humanitarian and human rights organisations to conduct their work, without fear of restriction, harassment or arrest and in accordance with international human rights standards.
•Allow free and unrestricted access forall UN Special Rapporteurs wishing to visit and report on Papua. In particular, the Government of Indonesia should issue an invitation to Mr David Kaye, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, as was pledged during the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva in 2012.
We are grateful for your attention to these matters and look forward to your response.
Yours Sincerely,
Esther Cann
Coordinator, TAPOL
Alison Johnston Green MSP, United Kingdom
Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, AJI) Indonesia
Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, AJI) Jayapura
Article 19
Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), Indonesia
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong
Australia West Papua Association, Australia
Catherine Delahunty, Green MP, New Zealand
Commission for the Disappeared and the Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia
Commission for the Disappeared and the Victims of Violence, Papua (KontraS Papua)
Democracy Alliance for Papua (Aliansi Demokrasi untuk Papua, AlDP)
East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), United States
Franciscans International, Switzerland
Free West Papua Campaign, United Kingdom
Human Rights Coalition of Papua (Koalisi HAM Papua)
The Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial), Indonesia
The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia, YLBHI), Indonesia
Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Lembaga Studi dan Advokasi Masyarakat, ELSAM), Indonesia
Institute of Human Rights Studies and Advocacy for Papua (ELSHAM Papua)
International Coalition for Papua (ICP)
Jean Urqhart, Independent MSP, United Kingdom
Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP, United Kingdom
John Finnie, Independent MSP, United Kingdom
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of Franciscans of Papua (SKPKC Fransiskan Papua)
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Evangelical Christian Church in Papua (JPIC GKI)
The Justice Foundation (Yayasan Satu Keadilan), Indonesia
Kevin Stewart, SNP MSP, United Kingdom
Legal Aid Institute of Jakarta (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Jakarta, LBH Jakarta), Indonesia
Legal Aid Institute of Papua (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Papua, LBH Papua)
Linda Fabiani SNP MSP, United Kingdom
Lotus Heart Papua Foundation (Yayasan Teratai Hati Papua, YTHP)
Majalah Selangkah, Papua, Indonesia
Mike MacKenzie, SNP MSP, United Kingdom
Minority Rights Group International, United Kingdom
Pacific Media Centre, AUT University, New Zealand
The Pantau Foundation (Yayasan Pantau), Indonesia
Papua Itu Kita, Indonesia
Reporters Without Borders
Sarah Boyak, Labour MSP, United Kingdom
Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA)
Suara Papua, Papua, Indonesia
Survival International
Tabloid Jubi, Papua, Indonesia
United For Truth (Bersatu Untuk Kebenaran, BUK-Papua)
Watch Indonesia! Germany
West Papua Action Auckland, New Zealand
West Papua Action Canterbury, New Zealand
West Papua Advocacy Team, United States
West Papua Netzwerk, Germany
Vivat International
